Charley Walters: Vikings backup QB Joe Webb says he's ever-ready

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Webb warms up an hour before the game against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 11 at the Metrodome. (Pioneer Press file photo: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

Faltering quarterback Christian Ponder will start again for the Vikings against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Metrodome. But the people's choice of late, backup Joe Webb, said Thursday he's ready if needed.

"I prepare the same every week, as if I'm the starter, and whenever my number's called, I'll be sure I'm ready," Webb said. "I'm always ready."

Webb, who turned 26 last month, said he doesn't get discouraged by his lack of playing time.

"I've been through situations of all types, in high school, in college, so I know how to handle it," he said. "I know whenever my time comes, it's going to come."

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, who this week said the choice of who plays quarterback is his decision alone without interference from ownership or management, certainly will have to consider Webb if Ponder, 24, falters against the Bears.

Webb's philosophy on his status comes down to "two 'P' words," he said.

"Stay patient and stay prepared."

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Webb is sensitive and careful about his status.

"You don't want to start up any quarterback controversy, draw bad attention to the team," he said. "You just want to stay positive all the time, try to find ways to help the team in other ways."

The past two times Webb started at quarterback for the Vikings were in 2010 in the last two games of the season, at Philadelphia (24-14 victory) and at Detroit (20-13 loss).

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He said he's improved since then.

"Doing the scout team reps, going against the first-team defense, that's always a plus," Webb said. "I try to get better with those guys, and that's the best way I can do it right now."

Among improvements, he said, are reading defenses.

"Defense nowadays, they do all types of disguises, trying to confuse the quarterback, that's the main thing," he said.

Webb said he "never gets discouraged. Everything happens for a reason. For everyone who's on the team, opportunity's going to come, whether you're a walk-on or a free agent or a rookie. So whenever your time comes, you've got to make sure you're ready."

Twins general manager Terry Ryan, rebuilding his pitching staff, deserves credit for another visionary deal in acquiring Vance Worley and Trevor May from the Phillies for outfielder Ben Revere, who might have had the weakest outfield arm in the majors. Aaron Hicks, who eventually will be Revere's replacement in center field, has a cannon for an arm.

Hicks ultimately is expected to move to right field when minor leaguers Oswaldo Arcia (left field) and Byron Buxton (center field) are ready. And don't forget about another future Twins outfielder, Max Kepler.

The Timberwolves say a rumor that they are still trying to trade with the Lakers for Pau Gasol is news to them. If chats between the teams for Gasol were to become serious, though, it's a good bet the Wolves would insist that Minnesota's Derrick Williams be part of a deal.

Look for Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari to be at Minnetonka High on Saturday to watch guards Tyus Jones of Apple Valley and Rashad Vaughn of Robbinsdale Cooper in the Breakdown showcase.

Lynx star Lindsay Whalen scored 22 points with eight rebounds and six assists for Galatasaray, which lost to UMMC Ekaterinburg in EuroLeague play in Turkey this week.

Tickets for the Gophers-Texas Tech Meineke Car Care Bowl game in Houston on Dec. 28 are priced from $25 to $75.

St. Thomas, which plays host to Wisconsin-Oshkosh in a NCAA Division III football semifinal on Saturday, is 23-1 at O'Shaughnessy Stadium the past three seasons and has won its past 16 home games.

Nicholas David, the R&B singer who's a semifinalist on NBC-TV's "The Voice," played football at Eagan High. His real name is Dave Mrozinski.

Twins corporate sales director of client services Bodie Forsling resigned this week after 13 years with the organization.

Condolences to ESPN vice president Tim Scanlan, the classy Park-Cottage Grove grad who lost his wife, Holly, to cancer. A memorial service is Friday at Assumption Church in St. Paul.

DON'T PRINT THAT

Bobby Bell was still somber when reached at his Kansas City home late Wednesday evening.

In the afternoon, the former University of Minnesota All-American had attended the memorial service for Jovan Belcher, the Kansas City Chiefs 25-year-old linebacker who last weekend shot and killed his girlfriend and then himself.

Bell, 72, a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker/defensive lineman for the Chiefs, attended the private service held near Arrowhead Stadium, he said, out of respect for Belcher's family and the Chiefs' organization.

"I wish I would have had an opportunity to visit with (Belcher) about stuff ... if there was something I could have done," Bell said. "You wonder about that. It was a sad day for everybody, a really sad, sad day. Nobody knows what happened -- it's a fine string from the brain to (snapping). A fine line.

"(Belcher) was a young kid. Here's a guy you practiced with, played with for the last four years, and all at once, in 36 hours, life's changed. Last week, he was practicing; now he's not here."

OVERHEARD

Concordia (Moorhead) men's basketball coach Rich Glas after the Schoenecker Arena scoreboard clock had to be reset this week with hometown St. Thomas, ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division III, ahead 20-0: "We should have started the game over."